GAZA LIVE CATTLE INCIDENT

Since November 5, 2013, the Department of Agriculture has been investigating a possible breach of the live export regulatory regime.

The allegations relate to an incident which it is said occurred in Gaza earlier this year.

Yesterday I viewed what I understand is footage of the incident. The footage will be distressing for most if not all Australians who see it.

There is no indication that the Department’s investigation will conclude any time soon.

I believe that to maintain and build community confidence in the live export industry, the Department should quickly move to serve the company or companies, which are the subject of its investigations, with a ‘show cause’ notice. The notice would place the onus on the company or companies to demonstrate why their export licence or licences should not be suspended pending the finalisation of the investigations.

The live export industry is too important to Australia to allow a collapse in public confidence to undermine its sustainability.